Let's Get Together Online!On Monday August 1st at 11:00 A.M. (PST) I have scheduled a "Greeting Card Geek Hangout" on Google Plus. What is a Google "Hangout"? Watch this video.

Special GuestMy special guest will be Carolyn Edlund, the author of Artsy Shark, a blog for emerging artists. She writes articles on the marketing and sales for creative and interviews experts in many fields of art, and featured artists, whose work is promoted weekly.

Nuts and Bolts

1. I will set up the "hangout" on my page at 11 a.m. PST. (You will need a "google plus" account to do this. If you cant' access one, let me know and I'll send you an invite.)

2. If you are already "connected" to me, the hangout will show up on your stream wall (click on house). Click on your stream wall (the house) and look for the hangout post.

The hangout post will look something like this:

4. Join the hangout by clicking the blue button.

-You will see a video screen appear with your face in it and possibly another confirmation that you indeed want to join the hangout.

-You might also be asked to download video software on your computer if you don't have it already.

Is the Hangout "Full"?Because of the overwhelming response to participate, I am breaking up this hangout up into 15 minute sessions since only 10 people can attend at a time. This means that after 15 minutes, we will rotate whoever is on the current hangout to the next group of people waiting.

Thanks so much for your enthusiasm! This is new technology so I am learning as I go. Ultimately, I want to create a more informal dialogue, but for now we'll go with this plan.

Some people in my neighborhood were tired of looking at an unpleasant "No-Parking" sign, so we decided to decorate it with knitting graffiti.

Six of us worked on the project which included a grandmother, 2 children, and 4 adults.

First, several people knitted small square patches and then these pieces were all combined into one piece. Then we wrapped the entire piece around the pole and sewed it on. The sewing process took about one hour.

Yesterday I used the new Google Plus Video "Hangout" (in Beta) with 7 greeting card & gift professionals, to have an informal discussion about working in the gift industry. We talked about the future of tradeshows, working with agents, the possible uses of Google Plus for professional development and what it's like to be a product designer. This experienced showed me that the potential for incorporating google+ hangouts is limitless for anyone in the gift industry (and beyond).

Here is a screen shot of what it looked when we were talking.
(Maria Brophy is on the large screen speaking, and the rest of us are at the bottom of the screen. When someone else starts talking, the large image will switch to the second person).

Hangouts are different than video conferences, because they are a social network. Possible uses of this free service from Google+ might include teaching classes, consulting, having a business meeting, visiting with customers or holding a musical performance! People can come and go as they please and it's more informal -- like meeting at a coffee shop. They don't have to be prescheduled. Anyone can start one at anytime and invite anyone on their social network to "drop in."

How to do it

1. Sign up for Google plus. (Since this service is in Beta, you might need an invite. Contact me if so.)

2. Click on hangout (lower Right) and start your own. Wait for people to stop by and join you. You can also look for other artists holding a hangout and join theirs.

(Picture: Designer Patti Gay talks about why she likes having an agent)

Nuts and Bolts:

You can have up to 10 people.

If one person leaves, another person waiting can take their spot.

Whoever is speaking becomes the large picture on the screen.

When someone else speaks, it switches to their face.

The names of everyone are available below their image.

Images or sound can be muted or hidden by oneself or others.

Hangouts are informal. You can start one anytime without scheduling it.

You can limit the hangout to a specific "circle" of people.

Possibilities?

Meet with a group of etsy fans or fellow artists.

Have a professional Art Licensing support group.

Ask designer friends for feedback.

Take or give a class.

Be available online for a question and answer session about your art.

Want to join the next Greeting Card Geek hangout?

Join us next Monday August 1st at 11:00 PSTConnect and add me to your circle on Google Plus and I'll send you a reminder.

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About Kate

I am a designer who lives in Berkeley California who has worked in the greeting card and gift industry for over 20 years. I like to create things that make people laugh. For more information on licensing my art, visit my website.